Sounds of Nature

A friend of mine just posted on Facebook that she had witnessed the sound of ice for the first time. Or more specifically, the dispersion of sound waves in ice sheets. If you go to this link you can hear what she heard: http://silentlistening.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/dispersion-of-sound-waves-in-ice-sheets/
It’s pretty amazing!

The author of the blog above has a description that says “Andreas Bick, composer and sound artist based in Berlin, Germany, writes about sound related things (forgive wrong spellings and twisted grammar). Silent listening is about the fringes of music, the periphery where music turns into sheer sound - concrete, wild, sometimes stunningly beautiful.”

“The fringes of music, the periphery where music turns into sheer sound - concrete, wild, sometimes stunningly beautiful” – love it!

As you probably know, being a birder requires very good hearing. In fact even the tiniest sounds can drive me nuts—or bring me peace. A few years ago I read a book by Donald Kroodsma that was all about bird song and communication. His work has showed that even chickadees can have local dialects, that flycatchers are born with their ability to produce sounds, and that mockingbirds mimic all the other birds in the area to build a large repertoire that will impress the ladies.

“Many people can identify a Wood Thrush when they hear it, it's one of the most beautiful songs in the world. Little do they realize they could hear the things that Wood Thrush is communicating if they just knew how to listen." – Donald Kroodsma

Most of us overlook the sounds of nature. Or they are often blocked out by sounds of industry and civilization. But we also tend to seek out nature sounds for peace of mind—you can even buy them on a CD to help you sleep at night.

Imagining my life without being able to hear birds sing, raindrops fall on a tin roof, wind blowing through aspen leaves, coyotes howling, the rumble of distant thunder, or the crashing of waves onto the beach (I could go on forever)—it just might be unbearable. I listen to man-made music often—and sometimes loudly so I can sing along like a crazy person. But nature, to me, is the true musician. You just have to listen more carefully to hear her songs.

What’s your favorite nature sound?

Natural Order

Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica, 2005

Oh all the little birdies in the tree, they wake up singing happy songs.
The squirrels go up and down their so busy running around, seem to know that they belong.

All the veggies in the garden and the trees in the yard, they all grow in the same direction. And I never met a flower who denied the higher power, that was going to shine on everyone.

Me, I ain't been no morning glory, I have lived another story. I’ve been afraid to get out of my bed. When the daylight rolled around, you’d find me hiding underground, paralyzed by fear and dread.

Why would I wake up and try to resist the morning that can only totally inevitably be? I want to open my eyes and give thanks to the dawning singing “bring it on”! I believe, I am home, I’m getting over to my place in the natural order of things.

I was talking to my brother about the things that give us trouble, oh, you know we both get awful blue. The thing I saw we had in common was this kind of faith, this belonging, had us running round wondering what we’re here to do.

Oh trying to go this thing alone is like trying to eat a mountain, its like trying to swallow the sea. Its like waking in the morning not believing you belong here. You’ve got nothing to give or to receive.

Hey, bring back my faith! It is a roof and a structure -- to this tree of life upon which we all thrive. I see spirit as to the land as is to the left or the right hand. The same body different sites. Why would we make it up that we don’t belong here when we can only totally inseparably be?

I want to open my eyes and giving thanks to the dawning singing “bring it on”! I believe I am home, I’m getting over to my place in the natural order of things.
I’m getting over to my place in the natural order of things.

Lyrics from "Natural Order" by Mamuse

Steer

Patrick's Point SP, Eureka, California, 2006

Feel it falling off like clothing
Taste it rolling on your tongue
See the lights above you glowing
Oh and breathe them deep into your lungs

It was always simple, not hidden hard
You've been pulling at the strings playing puppeteer for kings
And you've had enough

But the search ends here
Where the night is totally clear
And your heart is fierce
So now you finally know that you control where you go
You can steer

So hold this feeling like a newborn
Of freedom surging through your veins
You have opened up a new door
So bring on the wind, fire and rain

It was always simple, not hidden hard
You've been played at a game called remembering your name
And you stuffed it up

But the search ends here
Where the night is totally clear
And your heart is fierce
So now you finally know that you control where you go
You can steer

Partial lyrics from "Steer" by Missy Higgins